TTF: Tourism sector has been crippled
SYDNEY – – Australia’s accommodation sector is shedding jobs at an even faster rate than during the post-Olympics period and six times faster than the economy as a whole, according to peak national body, Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF).
TTF executive director Brett Gale said this is a strong indicator of how hard tourism has been hit by the global financial crisis.
“Job losses in the accommodation sector are occurring faster now than they did following the Sydney Olympics,†Gale said, “and we also had the double impact on tourism of the September 11 terror attacks and the collapse of Ansett during that period.â€
He added, “Since September last year, tourism jobs have dropped by six percent, compared to one percent overall.
“As a service industry, tourism is labour-intensive, so any decline in activity has a direct impact on employment and that’s exactly what we’ve seen in the accommodation sector.â€
Gale said 7,676 people had lost their jobs in just nine months – “and that’s just in one sector of the tourism industryâ€.
“If the rest of the tourism industry is as badly affected, nearly 30,000 Australians have lost their jobs.
“These are frightening figures which clearly show that Australia’s tourism industry has been disproportionately affected by the economic downturn.â€
Gale said falls in international visitor numbers have been compounded by a sharp decline in domestic travel.
“Fewer overseas visitors are coming to Australia, while we’ve seen a near 10 percent drop in domestic travel as Australians take advantage of cheap international airfares and a strong exchange rate.
“These factors will continue to impact on Australia’s tourism industry for some time to come and make the implementation of a well-structured, industry-backed and properly funded National Long-Term Tourism Strategy all the more important.
“It is vital that structural, regulatory and supply-side issues are addressed to ensure the sustainability of Australia’s tourism industry,†Gale added.
Ian Jarrett
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